On Anger, Book 2, Section 11 — In Plain English

Seneca — The Senator

"Anyone who makes others fear him must fear many people in return."

This is how nature works: whatever becomes powerful by scaring others can't escape fear itself. Look at lions — they jump at the smallest sounds! These fierce beasts get spooked by strange shadows, voices, or smells. Whatever terrorizes others is terrorized in return. So no wise person should want to be feared. And don't think anger is impressive because it scares people. Even the most pathetic things can frighten us — like poisonous bugs with deadly bites. Hunters use strings with feathers to stop huge herds of wild animals and drive them into traps. They call it a "scarer" for good reason. Foolish creatures get scared by foolish things. The sound of chariots and spinning wheels sends lions running back to their cages. Elephants are terrified of squealing pigs. We fear anger the same way children fear the dark or wild animals fear red feathers. Anger has nothing solid or brave about it. It only works on weak minds.

Seneca — The Senator Original

“He must fear many, whom so many fear.”

Thus has nature ordained, that whatever becomes great by causing fear to others is not free from fear itself. How disturbed lions are at the faintest noises! How excited those fiercest of beasts become at strange shadows, voices, or smells! Whatever is a terror to others, fears for itself. There can be no reason, therefore, for any wise man to wish to be feared, and no one need think that anger is anything great because it strikes terror, since even the most despicable things are feared, as, for example, noxious vermin whose bite is venomous: and since a string set with feathers stops the largest herds of wild beasts and guides them into traps, it is no wonder that from its effect it should be named a “Scarer.”[7] Foolish creatures are frightened by foolish things: the movement of chariots and the sight of their wheels turning round drives lions back into their cage: elephants are frightened at the cries of pigs: and so also we fear anger just as children fear the dark, or wild beasts fear red feathers: it has in itself nothing solid or valiant, but it affects feeble minds.